Move mouse over image to see description.

Foxton is situated on the northern bank of the Manawatu River in the lower basin on the Manawatu Plain and about 3 miles inland from the sea. The surrounding country is flat alluvial plain. The Levin-Wanganui section of main highway passes near the eastern boundary of the town. By road Foxton is 24 miles south-west of Palmerston North, 12 miles north of Levin, and 10 miles northwest of Shannon.

The Foxton area was known in pre-colonisation times as Te Awahou and consisted of bush and flax swamp. There were numerous settlements along the Manawatu River, an important canoe route. The main overland route passed along the coast. Early in 1842 several Europeans settled in the lower Manawatu. Captain Francis Robinson, who later acquired land on the north bank of the Manawatu for a cattle station, was the first European to take up residence on the fringe of what is now Foxton. In 1843 the Rev. James Duncan arrived at Matakarapa, a Maori village on the Manawatu River opposite present Foxton; afterwards he transferred to the northern bank to establish his mission station on 100 acres of land presented to him by Ihakara Tukumaru, the local paramount chief. In 1855, apparently because of the damage and destruction caused to their plant by the severe earthquake of that year, the settlers at and near Paiaka (near present Shannon) moved to localities near the mouth of the Manawatu River.

Thomas Upperdine Cook, who obtained much property, built a store and residence and wharf on the present town site and is regarded as the founder of Foxton. In 1858 a regular coach service commenced between Wellington and Wanganui, and Foxton became a stop-over point and ferry station. Until the completion of the railways the port remained the chief outlet for the products of the Manawatu district. These included timber and flax fibre. The port of Manawatu was defined in 1868 and in 1877 when the first harbour board was established, the name was changed to Foxton. In 1873 the Government constructed a wooden tramway from Palmerston North to Foxton and a wharf at the river-bank terminus. The tramway was later converted to a railway and opened on 27 April 1876. Shipping traffic began to decline about 1930 and, by 1951, Foxton had ceased to be a commercial port. By May 1878 Foxton was linked by rail to Wanganui via Palmerston North and, in 1886, to Wellington via Longburn. The Foxton-Longburn section was closed on 19 July 1959. Foxton was constituted a borough in 1883. The town was named after Sir William Fox, a prominent settler of the district. The land on which the borough is situated formerly bore the name of Awahou, which means "new river".

You can write to us in the Contact Us section. Driving directions can be found below. Please visit our Lodge History page to read about the fascinating beginnings of the Lodge.

The pictures at the top of the page are of Main Street looking South,  Main Street looking South and the Water Tower, Main street lookin North and the War Memorial and finally the Windmill.

---

The Te Awahou Lodge No 133 79 Main Street Foxton For a Larger Map, please click here.
Directions: The town of Foxton can be reached from the South via Levin by travelling down highway and from the North from Auckland and all points South including Wanganui by travelling down highway 1, turning left at Bulls then right at Sanson and travell South until coming to Foxton.